Last day to view KK Local Plan tomorrow

KOTA KINABALU - June 2, 2014 is the last day for the public to view the Kota Kinabalu Local Plan and file their objections in writing on official form, if any, at the first floor of the City Hall meeting room before 5pm, prior to the official approval and gazetting of the documents.

A town planner on anonymity said, among other things, that the new zoning category of "Mix Development" was applied to the two rows of houses in Tg Aru where the Japanese Consulate is and the Indonesian Consul resides. Two detached houses there are also noted for commercial activities - a bridal business from a night entertainment joint and a Korean restaurant.

However, others like the row where former Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Peter Lo resides comes under 'Residential (H) for high-density development surrounded by hotels and resorts (HR).

He stressed that abuses tend to proliferate if the public remains ignorant or apathetic towards urbanism profiteering issues pertaining to proper planning which has a great bearing on their and their progeny way of life.

Meanwhile, the plan for night market hawkering on Gaya Street every Friday and Saturday has come in for public criticism due to the disorderliness that such activities bring to the city's oldest street.

Shopkeepers and eateries doing business there also resent the plan as it would drive away some discerning customers and tourists for food offerings due to the congestion and parking woes.

Critics say DBKK should not be in the business of setting up more eateries (like at the Observatory Tower with litter thrown down) and hawkering spots, questioning whether insiders are benefiting from subletting some hawker licensed spots from the wet market to other places where some subletting retailers claimed to pay a much higher rate than the official rate to the rent seeking connected class.

In Inanam, youth football teams rue the loss of the Inanam Telekom football field and the Tg Aru Hone place football field, and question the authority's priority for providing open space for sports and recreation, leading to a drop in the sporting standards of the State from soccer to hockey.

Business people say what DBKK should do is set up night market hawkering spots along Jalan Padang where buses and taxis ceased business at night and there is no obstruction to shops and traffic flow.

Or from the back of the DBKK car park in front of the deserted library, court house car parkto the city park, next to the Kampung Air night market so it would be a continuation of such activities in a critical connected mass.

There is already enough disorderliness in the Sinsuran Filipino market vicinity with its night market catering to like-minded crowds.

BP